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Kris Bryant Just Hit A 451-Foot HR Off The Video Board

By
Aldo Soto
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Moonshots, that’s what Kris Bryant does best and boy did he give Chicago Cubs fans a treat on Saturday. In the first inning, Bryant blasted a 451-foot home run off the video board in left field for his first homer of 2017.

The reigning National League MVP crushed this ball.

Wind is blowing out at more than 20 mph at Wrigley Field, but this ball was going out no matter what.

Expect more dingers today.

Try Not To Cry Hearing How This Guy Got His Cubs World Series Ring

By
Erik Lambert
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Lee Pikelny is just like so many other people. He grew up with the dream of one day playing baseball in the major leagues. Specifically for his home town of Chicago. Like most it didn’t take him too long to realize he just didn’t have the natural ability to make it happen. Nonetheless he decided to pursue that dream in another way.

He turned to a profession involving scoreboard and camera operation. After a long run in high school and college athletics, he took advantage of some freelance opportunities. Before he knew it he’d landed dream contracts with both the Cubs and White Sox organizations. Both jobs were secured in April of 2015. As it turns out his timing couldn’t have been better.

No sooner had he settled into the job than the Cubs went on their historic run to the 2016 World Series championship. Just being able to film and witness it up close would’ve been enough for Lee. Instead the organization went above and beyond, giving him something to treasure for the rest of his life.

Lee Pikelny grabs history

Understand that the rings themselves are considered worth approximately $70,000 at present. There is no telling how much more that will increase over time given the connection each has to the monumental, curse-breaking achievement that year was. So in the end Pikelny got to live out his dream. Maybe not in the traditional sense, but it’s further proof that through determination and a little creativity, there’s always a way to get what you want out of life.

Here’s hoping his story can serve as inspiration to others. For the time being, it can stand as just another feel-good tale the 2016 Cubs can add to their ever growing legacy. Rest assured this one will be pretty high up on the “awesomeness” meter.

GMs Around NFL Think Bears Target This Position At #3 Pick

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan pace

It seems the league is growing confident that the about the Chicago Bears 2017 draft plan. Or at least what they aim to do regarding the #3 overall pick. Opinions among top experts continue to vary from one end of the spectrum to the other. Some say they are absolutely eyeing a quarterback to put behind Mike Glennon. Others think the nature of the class makes it clear they go defense.

If nothing else it’s proof GM Ryan Pace has done his job. Work through free agency has made it seem like the Bears could go any which way they want. That includes a possible trade down in hopes of acquiring an extra high pick or two. However, if they were to stay put at #3, rumblings around the league have reached similar conclusions.

According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, cornerback Marshon Lattimore of Ohio State is the hot name connected to Chicago among GMs from other teams. Even if that’s not the case, it’s clear that they are targeting one of the top defensive backs available.

“Scouting sources with the Tennessee Titans have confirmed the team’s interest in Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Clemson wide receiver Williams. If Lattimore is on the board at No. 5 overall, I expect he’ll be the team’s pick. If Lattimore is gone, to Chicago for example, look for Williams to get heavy consideration.

As mentioned above, Lattimore to Chicago is a hot rumor among NFL general managers. One executive I spoke with felt “99 percent sure” the Bears would draft a defensive back if they keep the No. 3 overall pick.”

Making sense of this Bears 2017 draft plan

Pace has said repeatedly that he will maintain his methodology of “best player available.” That is to say getting the best possible talent he can at every single pick. He doesn’t want the Bears draft process driven by needs. That would explain why Chicago brought in so many outside free agents including two quarterbacks, three wide receivers, a tight end, a nose tackle, three cornerbacks and a safety.

This way no position can be considered dangerously pressing. Thus they’re allowed to go after a player they really like. In this context a defensive back would make a ton of sense. Based on the majority of draft boards among experts there are three secondary players ranked in the top 10 overall alone. Those being Lattimore and safeties Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams.

One would argue that cornerbacks are a more valuable position than safeties, so Lattimore might be rated a little above the other two. He’s certainly something to watch from a talent perspective.

Follow the logic

Clearly an exceptional athlete who lacks nothing for the NFL level including size and speed. The bothersome part about this is three-fold. Lattimore has a history of chronic hamstring problems that ruined his freshman year. He’s only started 13 games and was badly exposed at times by receivers who could run good routes. Last but not least, defensive backs rarely go in the top three. The last one to do so was 1997.

Why so long a drought? Mostly due to the perception that DBs just don’t impact games like a great quarterback, offensive tackle or pass rusher can. A fair point. Then again it’s also worth noting that six of the nine defensive backs ever taken that high went to at least one Pro Bowl in their careers. The most recent of them was Shawn Springs.

He came out of…wait for it…Ohio State.

It’s hard to argue why the Bears would have interest in doing this. They’ve already built a rock solid front seven headlined by Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks, Pernell McPhee and Willie Young. They could be a shutdown corner away from being a top five unit. Everything seems to hinge on whether or not they stay put at #3 overall.

Less than two weeks remain before that question is answered.

How The Blackhawks Blew Game 1, And Why Game 2 Should Go Much Better

By
Matt Barbato
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The Chicago Blackhawks started the 2017 Stanley Cup playoff run in disheartening fashion and that might be an understatement.

The Hawks came out flat and went down early in the first period after thinking it was a good idea for three players to converge on the puck carrier. Duncan Keith also didn’t look behind him and before we knew it Viktor Arvidsson’s tip-in snuck past Corey Crawford and the Hawks were in a 1-0 hole they couldn’t climb out of.

Arvidsson’s hand-eye coordination on the play can’t be diminished, but this was a lousy goal to give up.

The Blackhawks eventually woke up and played well enough to out-shoot Nashville 29-20. However, quality chances were few and far between and Chicago’s rust showed whenever they got in close.

However, Thursday night’s sluggish outing probably should’ve been expected. The Chicago Tribune’s Christopher Hine pointed out during the game that the Blackhawks simply don’t play well after at least three days of rest. Chicago is 1-5 this season in games played after they’ve had at least three days off beforehand.

The Blackhawks statistically aren’t great in Game 1s, either. They’re 12-10 in every Game 1 of a playoff series under Joel Quenneville, and that includes going 4-0 in every Game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup run.

So we already know the Hawks kind of stink in the opening game of a series. Factor in the several days off leading up to Thursday night and the setback makes more sense.

Plus, the last thing the Hawks could’ve done was get behind early. That allowed Nashville coach Peter Laviolette to pack it in on the team’s blue line and prevent the Hawks from cleanly skating the puck into the offensive zone, which is something they excel at. The Predators essentially lined four players up at the blue line after that goal and forced the Hawks to dump and chase the puck into the zone.

We all know Chicago plays their best when the series is on the line in Games 5-7. But there’s also an encouraging trend that should have fans optimistic for Game 2. The Blackhawks are 6-3 in Game 2 after losing Game 1 under Quenneville. However, all but two of those games were played away from home. The good news is the Hawks won both games that were played at the United Center to even the series.

The trends prove Chicago was bound to have a slow start to the series. Nashville did a good job of limiting outstanding chances, but they should feel fortunate to have gotten out with a victory considering they put only nine shots on Corey Crawford in the final two stanzas.

The Hawks deserve the benefit of the doubt even though their 2017 playoff opener was lackluster to say the least. We’ll see if the trends hold up Saturday night.

Yet Another Former Bears Player Just Took a Jab At Jay Cutler

By
Erik Lambert
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antrel rolle knocked cutler
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune Jay Cutler walks off the field after the loss.

Jay Cutler is a divisive person. No, seriously it seems like there is no middle ground with the former Chicago Bears quarterback. People either love him or hate him. It’s true for fans, true for coaches and also teammates. More than a few have felt no qualms about speaking out against their former QB after leaving Chicago for jobs elsewhere. Brandon Marshall did it. Brian Urlacher did it. Martellus Bennett did it. Now a new face joined the club when Antrel Rolle knocked Cutler in a recent interview.

The former Bears safety had an unremarkable run in Chicago during the 2015 season. Injuries played a roll (excuse the pun) in why things didn’t work out. Nonetheless he was posed the question as to why Cutler ultimately failed during his time there. Rolle drew from his own experience to explain his thoughts.

“He was a little bit more laid back. He wasn’t a front-row leader. Neither was Eli Manning, but Eli has a way about himself to lead every guy. I just felt like, honestly, if Jay involved himself more with the team, more with his receivers, I think he’d get more better results on the playing field.

Like I said I just honestly feel like he would get much better results if he involved himself more in the team collectively, with all individuals. It doesn’t have to be offense, defense, special teams, but just everyone as a collective unit, I think he would get more out of his game for himself.”

Antrel Rolle knocked Cutler for leadership

Ironically 2015 probably was Jay’s best season under center for the Bears. Still Rolle won a Super Bowl with Manning so he’s seen the position played at the highest level up close. Cutler was long accused of not taking the greatest responsibilities as a leader in the locker room. Several former teammates have stated he barely if ever talked to them.

Another former safety, Brandon Meriweather, said that exact thing not too long ago.

Cutler fans may denounce Rolle for waiting until Cutler was down before kicking him like this. Then again the guy wasn’t mean-spirited in his comments. He answered the question as best he could and honestly as he could. What he said is a view shared by many who played alongside Jay for the eight seasons he was the starter in Chicago.

The fact is the guy wasn’t a natural-born leader. That’s not a crime. Cutler has always been viewed as somewhat of an introvert. He keeps to himself and gets testy when people try prying into his personal life. That often can make a man misunderstood, but also not the best choice for being an NFL quarterback. A position that demands not just good play on the field but a voice to the rest of the team.

He may have wanted to convey the message of winning and playing better, but every time he tried it just came out wrong. Mostly through bad body language and ill-timed blowups on national TV. It goes back to the old moniker. Some guys have it, some guys don’t.

As Jay Cutler contemplates retirement, it’s clear those like Rolle may have had a point.

Tim Anderson Homers On First Pitch Of The Game As White Sox Jump All Over Indians

By
Matt Eastman
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After getting off to a bit of a slow start, Tim Anderson wasted no time in putting the White Sox on top 1-0 smashing the very first pitch he saw off Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin.

It wasn’t much later in the 1st that Matt Davidson belted a ball over the right-field wall, plating Cody Asche and Avisail Garcia to extend the White Sox lead to 4-0.

Davidson is taking full advantage of his early playing time hitting a robust .353 with two home runs and eight RBI early on in the season. Finally healthy, perhaps the White Sox are finally starting to see the potential in the once prized draft pick.

The White Sox currently lead 7-3 late in the top of the 8th.

Bears Insider Believes This Will Be 2017 Fate of Kyle Fuller

By
Erik Lambert
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kyle fuller
SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 09: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears leaves the stadium through a tunnel after a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on November 9, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

There may be no more heated competition on the 2017 Chicago Bears roster than at cornerback. The team has added three new faces to the mix in Marcus Cooper, Prince Amukamara and B.W. Webb. This is in addition to the returns of Bryce Callahan and Johnthan Banks. Even with the recent cutting of veteran Tracy Porter, they still have 12 corners on the depth chart. That means by the beginning of September at least six of them will be gone. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune says one casualty will be when the Bears cut Kyle Fuller.

When he got drafted back in 2014, many hoped Fuller would be the heir apparent to Charles Tillman. Of course history shows such hopes are often foolhardy. After a strong rookie year, Fuller regressed for much of 2015 and then suffered a knee injury that knocked him out for all of 2016. He no longer has the aura of protection recent first round picks get. The GM and head coach who drafted him are both gone.

Never mind that the competition he’ll be facing is much stiffer than the last year. Biggs believes there are just too many factors playing against him.

Why the Bears cut Kyle Fuller

“My hunch is that Fuller is not on the Bears’ roster when the season begins. He doesn’t hold any trade value right now because he didn’t play a single down last season. The Bears have been busy adding cornerbacks to the mix and I imagine it is a priority for them in a draft that is deep at the position.

You could certainly make the case the team has more or less moved on from Fuller already. I don’t see him being in their plans for 2017. But the Bears have yet to see him out on the field and maybe he looks like a completely different player when the voluntary offseason program kicks off later this month. The team certainly has no rush to make a decision on Fuller.”

Of course there is always the chance he could rebound but it’s hard to feel any such optimism. Fuller was inconsistent before he got hurt and knee injuries are always dicey for cornerbacks. Many have continued to champion the idea that he might make a successful transition to safety, an area where he’d have greater odds of sticking. Biggs squashed that too though.

“Some folks I have chatted with have pointed out that Fuller has a thin lower half and that would make the transition to safety difficult for him. It’s one thing to be a willing tackler in run support as a cornerback. It’s another thing to fill a run lane as a safety.”

Down to the last strike

The reality is Fuller controls his own fate over the next five months. He could easily sway a lot of people if he comes out strong in training camp and the preseason. He’s still young and on a cheap contract. Chicago is holding out hope that he may yet turn things around. There have been enough glimpses to indicate he can play with the best. It’s all about health and consistency with him.

Many have already written his tombstone though. Another failed draft pick by former GM Phil Emery. They’ve been dropping like flies lately. Former second round pick Ego Ferguson was the most recent victim. Fuller would become the second first rounder to get sent packing in a two-year span after Shea McClellin left a year ago. It would take quite an effort to overcome these doubts. Effort some feel isn’t in Fuller at this point.

Only time will tell.

Former Chicago Scout Convinced Bears Target This Position at #3

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox and ryan pace

It’s almost finished. With two weeks to go before the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears should be about set in their board. The scouting combine, pro days and private meetings are all but done. Now the front office and coaching staff conduct their final discussions. No doubt the Bears draft target debate remains one of the hottest topics among fans. People are just dying to know which way they might be leaning.

Though he’s not a member of the organization anymore, Greg Gabriel knows Chicago well. He worked for them as a scout for years and understands how front office machinations go. Putting that experience and his own knowledge of the Bears’ needs to good use, he feels the direction the arrow points becomes fairly obvious.

GM Ryan Pace plans on grabbing a quarterback.

Bears draft target cross-hairs are on QB

Gabriel explained in detail why that is in his latest column for CBS Sports. It’s felt that Chicago has no proven talent at all on their roster at quarterback. Mike Glennon is the only one signed beyond 2017 and even he comes with question marks. He hasn’t started a game since 2014 and there is no guarantee he’s gotten better since that time.

Besides that Glennon has a contract clause where the Bears could easily dismiss him in 2018 with minimal impact on their salary cap. That indicates a certain lack of confidence that he really is their answer. With this being the case, it only makes sense that they look to add another talented body at such a crucial position.

“The Bears showed interest in three of the top four quarterbacks in March…

I’ve always felt that this quarterback class is much better than many of the analysts have given it credit for. The fact that there have been numerous private workouts in recent weeks with many of the quarterbacks backs this line of thinking. In fact, it has become quite apparent that there will be four quarterbacks drafted in the first round. How high they go remains to be seen, but I would bet at least two go in the top 10. While there’s no Andrew Luck in this class, I can easily say that the top ones are at least as good as Marcus Mariota.

Figuring all that into the equation, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Bears select a quarterback at No. 3.”

Putting the pieces together

There are some fact floating out there that seem to back this thinking up. A big one is the reported divide between the Cleveland Browns coaching staff and their front office. Some feel they should draft pass rusher Myles Garrett as planned. Others think they have to grab the best quarterback on the board. Most likely Trubisky whom they reportedly love.

This sudden fear was likely brought on by growing rumors that Trubisky would not make it out of the top five. Considering the Browns don’t pick again until #12 overall, this means they would likely miss out on their favorite quarterback. It might be the Bears who are creating this havoc. Multiple draft analysts have hinted they like him for months, which is why some of them continue to mock draft him at #3 overall.

Think of it this way. Which quarterback depth chart would look more exciting?

  1. Mike Glennon 
  2. Mark Sanchez
  3. Connor Shaw

Or

  1. Mike Glennon
  2. Mitch Trubisky
  3. Mark Sanchez

It’s really not even worth a discussion. Sure there are risks in taking a quarterback that high. There always is. At the same time this is something the Bears have put off for over a decade. If they’re not going to do it now, when they have the high enough pick to make it happen, then when?

Stop overthinking it

People keep saying the 2018 class will be better, but there is no possible way to know that. The Bears won’t be guaranteed a high choice next year anyway. Isn’t it logical to get the top quarterback while they have the ammunition to do so? Besides there is also another indisputable fact. There really is no draft prospect (besides Garrett) who is any more of a guaranteed success than Trubisky.

No seriously. That’s the truth.

Solomon Thomas is a dynamic rusher but he’s also a tweener in terms of his body type. Not the most ideal fit for any particular scheme. Jonathan Allen has athletic limitations and a history of injury issues with his shoulders. Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore also have bothersome health concerns. Besides, with respect to their talents as defensive backs, none of them would ever impact a franchise half as much as a potential franchise quarterback. That goes for Jamal Adams as well.

Pace has dodged the quarterback question for two years. The depth of this 2017 class is poor and odds are the best ones will be gone as early as the second round. All of that adds to the evidence that there may never be a better time for Chicago to finally get that QB of the future.

Kyle Schwarber May Have Killed Yasmani Grandal If This Play Happened 5 Years Ago

By
Aldo Soto
-

Starting in 2014, MLB outlawed catchers being able to block the plate with the exception of if they already had possession of the ball. It took some time for players to get over the confusion of the new rule because yes you still can make contact with the catcher if he’s blocking the plate with the ball. You still see it today, as many home plate collisions rarely ever occur. Well, Los Angeles Dodgers Yasmani Grandal is probably the luckiest man on Earth because during Thursday’s game against the Chicago Cubs he had Kyle Schwarber to deal with.

But again, this wasn’t five years ago when anything could go down at home plate. Now, players have to be more careful to not break the rule. On a ball that got away from the Dodgers at third base, Schwarber raced home trying to score. So, instead of destroying the catcher, he decided to sneak his hand in safely on the plate, but was smacked in the face by the glove of Grandal.

Yet, if this was before the new collision rule at home plate, you know Schwarber would try to run right through Grandal.

But this time around, it was Schwarber left bleeding.

https://twitter.com/_MarcusD2_/status/852614238254362624

Schwarber pre-collision rule would jack up catchers left and right.

HOLY SHIT! Addison Russell Just Launched A Home Run To Mars

By
Aldo Soto
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Addison Russell hit his first home run of 2017 all the way to Waveland on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He crushed it and then delivered a smooth bat flip too.

This ball was obliterated. RIP ball.

That bat flip tho

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